University of Houston Moores Opera Center

Join us for the opening production of the University of Houston Moores School of Music’s 2026–2027 Opera Season with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. One of the most enduring works in the American musical theater canon, Carousel is a moving exploration of love, forgiveness, redemption, and the possibility of personal transformation. The production opens the season with a powerful story that continues to resonate with audiences through its emotional depth, unforgettable score, and timeless themes.

Beneath its sweeping melodies and beloved songs lies a profound examination of individuals struggling against circumstances they cannot easily overcome. As its characters grapple with difficult choices, Carousel raises enduring questions about mercy, accountability, and the role communities play in both judgment and compassion.

Presented in the Moores Opera House, this compelling production invites audiences to experience one of the most influential works in American musical theater as the first chapter in a season dedicated to stories of resilience, justice, connection, and the search for belonging.

Moores Opera Center and Ars Lyrica deliver a bold cinematic twist on Handel’s Oreste, fusing tradition with modern edge. With Kathleen Belcher and Matthew Dirst at the helm, this charged production burns with suspense, emotion, and artistry—guaranteed to leave audiences breathless.

Inspired by Euripides's Iphegeneia in Tauris, Handel's 1734 opera Oreste is a family drama of arbitrary cruelty and hard-won justice. It is filled with some of the composer’s favorite arias, many of which he adapted from his previous Italian operas. An all-student cast is accompanied by the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, augmented by key players from Ars Lyrica Houston

Join us for the second production of the University of Houston Moores School of Music’s 2026–2027 Opera Season with Engelbert Humperdinck's Hänsel & Gretel, a work that reaches far beyond its fairy-tale origins. Beneath its enchanting melodies and magical imagery lies a profound story of resilience, self-discovery, and transformation. As Hänsel and Gretel navigate a world filled with uncertainty, temptation, and fear, they learn to rely on their ingenuity, courage, and love for one another to overcome adversity.

At its heart, the opera speaks to the universal experience of growing up and confronting the unknown. Humperdinck’s masterful score, infused with warmth, wonder, and emotional depth, elevates the familiar tale into a reflection on the challenges that shape character and identity. Ultimately, Hänsel and Gretel reminds audiences of all ages that true growth often requires stepping beyond the boundaries of comfort, facing life’s trials with courage, and finding one’s way home wiser, stronger, and transformed.

The opera season concludes on April 24 with Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes, presented as a special benefit concert performance. Widely regarded as one of the twentieth century's greatest operas, Peter Grimes tells the powerful story of an outsider struggling against suspicion, prejudice and social isolation. This unforgettable performance will feature three-time GRAMMY Award-winning Houston native soprano Latonia Moore alongside the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, UH Choirs and student soloists, bringing Britten's extraordinary score and gripping drama to life.